30.06.2021
COVID-19 update: International Transport operators are exempted from new regulations in Turkey
A new circular dated 27.06.2021 has been issued by the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, informing of new measures, such as mandatory quarantines and submission of negative PCR test results, to be applied as of 1st July 2021 at Border Crossing Points regarding arrivals from certain countries. However, we would like to emphasize that these new requirements are not related to international transports and are not imposed on transport operators and their representatives (drivers). Therefore, the current measures continue to be applied to TIR transport operators entering Turkey and the latter are exempted from any requirements mentioned in this circular.
Please find attached the original circular and an English translation of the same.
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Source : TOBB
01.06.2021
Itinerary Ban in Istanbul for Heavy Vehicles
According to the decision of the İstanbul Transport Coordination Committee, as of 1st of June 2021, heavy vehicles (type N3/O3/O4) that will transit through Istanbul will not be using D100, TEM, and connection roads.
These vehicles that transitting Istanbul will be using the Northern Marmara Highway, and those will enter the İstanbul from the west will enter the aforementioned highway via the Silivri-Kınalı intersection and will leave via the Pendik-Kurnaköy intersection. Those will enter İstanbul from the east will enter the aforementioned highway via the Pendik-Kurnaköy intersection and will be leaving via the Silivri-Kınalı intersection.
Except for the above-mentioned one, all the existing procedures for heavy vehicles will remain, and providing logistics services in, to/from Istanbul will continue as usual.
Note:
N3 Type: Over 12 tons motor vehicles
O3 Type: Between 3,5 – 10 tons vehicles without engine
O4 Type: Over 10 tons vehicles without engine
Source: TOBB
30.12.2020
Update - New Covid-19 Measure in Turkey
In order to take the control of daily Covid-19 cases, a new Covid-19 measure has been put into practice by the Turkish authorities.
According to the letter of the Ministry of Health, dated 29.12.2020;
• Starting from 30.12.2020, people flying Turkey are required to submit a negative PCR test, sampled a maximum of 72 hours before their flight. People failing to submit a negative PCR Test, will not be allowed to board.
• Negative Covid-19 test results of the people who come to the Turkish sea and land borders will be controlled by the border authorities.
• People who come to the Turkish sea and land borders and failing to present a negative PCR Test will be put in quarantine for 7 days in the place where they will stay. People who do not have a place to stay will be put in quarantine in the place where the health authorities in the city will decide.
• At the end of the 7 days, the new PCR test will be carried out by the authorities, and if the test result is negative, then the quarantine process will be over.
• In order to track the people who will be quarantined will fill in the related forms which will be provided by the authorities, and these forms will be kept for 30 days.
• Information related to the vehicles and the people will be recorded to the information system.
• Truck drivers and seamen are exempted from the above-mentioned PCR test and quarantine requirement.
• The above-mentioned measure will continue until 1 March 2021.
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Source: Ministry of Health - Turkey
29.12.2020
New Covid-19 Measure in Turkey
According to the latest letter of the Ministry of Health (in attachment in Turkish), a new COVID-19 measure is coming into force in Turkey.
In order to take the control of daily Covid-19 cases, starting from 28 December 2020, people flying to Turkey are required to submit a negative PCR test, sampled a maximum of 72 hours before their flight. Same measure will also be mandatory for people entering Turkey by land and sea borders as of 30.12.2020.
People failing to submit a negative PCR test will not be allowed to board. People who come to the Turkish sea and land borders and failing to present a negative PCR Test will be put in quarantine for 7 days in the place where they will stay. People who do not have a place to stay will be put in quarantine in a place decided by the health authorities.
At the end of the 7 days, the new PCR test will be carried out by the authorities, and if the test result is negative, then the quarantine process will be over.
Within the scope of the latest COVID-19 measure under the letter of the Ministry of Health, there is no official exception for the drivers, but the drivers' situation is being evaluated by the Turkish authorities. The latest situation on the PCR test requirements for the drivers will be published by IRU after the clarification.
The above-mentioned measure will continue until March 1, 2020.
Note: IRU and the IRU members in Turkey, TOBB and UND, are in close contacts with the Turkish competent authorities on the issue of drivers’ tests. As soon as we have additional information, it will be communicated to members via the Flash info service.
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Sources: TOBB and UND
04.06.2020
On 3 June, the Turkish Ministry of the Interior published a letter confirming the opening of the borders with Iran and Iraq. International road transport drivers can use Gürbulak Border Gate (between Turkey and Iran, operations started in the morning of 4 June) and Habur Border Gate (between Turkey and Iraq, it will probably open in the afternoon of 4 June) for their transport operations. Once at the border, drivers must comply with procedures set out in the letter (English translation here).
Source: Turkish Ministry of the Interior, IRU Istanbul office
18.05.2020
On 14 May the measures related to drivers transiting through Turkey (section A) were updated. The previous obligation for drivers in transit to leave the country within either 36 or 24 hours has been lifted. The new regulation states that customs administrations will determine the routes and resting/parking areas for vehicles in transit, and that drivers should exit Turkey as soon as possible.
Source: UND
09.05.2020
On 8 May, the Turkish Ministry of Interior updated the measures related to drivers entering Turkey (unofficial translation here). All of the below mentioned measures are not valid for entry/exit to and from Iran and Iraq.
According to the updated measures:
1. the previous obligation for foreign drivers who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 to leave Turkey within 72 hours of entering has been lifted. However, foreign drivers will be obligated to agree with a letter of commitment that they will exit Turkey as soon as possible. In this case only they will not be subject to a 14-day quarantine period.
2. drivers will be allowed to board Ro-Ro vessels if operating between the following ports:
Turkey-Ukraine:
Zonguldak – Chornomorsk (Ilyıchevsky)
Istanbul (Haydarpaşa) - Chornomorsk (Ilyıchevsky)
Karasu – Chornomorsk (Ilyıchevsky)
Turkey-Romania:
Constanta - Karasu
Turkey-Lebanon:
Taşucu - Tripoli
Turkey-Israel:
Mersin - Haifa
All other measures remain in place.
Sources: UND and TOBB
27.04.2020
The measures related to drivers entering Turkey (Section B of previous decree) have been updated by the Turkish Ministry of Interior (previous measure here - translation here). All of the below mentioned measures are not valid for entry/exit to and from Iran and Iraq. Previous measures on Sections A (Transit Vehicles and Drivers from Turkey), C (Drivers Exiting Turkey)and D (Conditions That Shall Be Applied to Roro Voyages) will remain.
According to the new updated measures:
o All drivers will be subject to health checks. Foreign drivers who show symptoms related to COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Turkey. Turkish drivers who show symptoms related to COVID-19 will be put in quarantine.
o Foreign drivers who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 and who plan to leave Turkey within 72 hours of entering, will not be subject to a 14-day quarantine period.
o Turkish drivers who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to leave Turkey without any quarantine procedures.
o Trucks which are carrying goods such as medicine, medical supplies and food supplies that are urgent for Turkey, will be given priority to enter Turkey.
o Foreign drivers should go to the nearest healthcare institution if they feel any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.) developing within 72 hours of entering Turkey.
o An additional 24-72 hour period can be given to the transporter by the relevant customs office, considering road and weather conditions.
o Upon entry into the country, drivers will be obligated to agree with a letter of commitment from the Turkish Ministry of Interior stating that they will drive directly to their point of destination, non-stop, except in cases of emergency, otherwise fines will be issued under the General Public Health Law.
Source: UND
10.04.2020
On 9 April, the Turkish Ministry of Interior set out new measures (translation here) related to limit the spread COVID-19. According to the measures, all drivers will be subject to health checks. Individuals who show symptoms related to the disease will not be allowed to enter Turkey.
After medical checks by health authorities, Turkish drivers will be allowed to enter by signing a commitment which proves that they accept to quarantine at home for 14 days, if they visited risky countries within last 14 days.
Foreign drivers will drive to designated and isolated areas where the exchange of drivers and/or trailer/goods, will be performed. In case this is not possible, and in case they have visited countries at risk within the last 14 days (see list below), foreign drivers will be allowed to enter Turkish territory only after a mandatory 14 days quarantine.
Foreign trucks/drivers carrying goods, such as medicine, medical supplies and food supplies, that bear urgency for Turkey, are allowed to enter (without having to quarantine for 14 days) under the obligation to undergo major relevant health examinations/checks and the obligation of getting necessary protective measures.
Bulgarian, Azerbaijan, Nahcivan and Georgian drivers will be able to enter Turkey without waiting 14 days of quarantine period, after having undergone necessary health checks at the determined isolated areas and after the vehicles has been disinfected.
Ro-Ro vessels will only carry trailers (without truck) or containers; drivers will not be allowed to board Ro-Ro vessels.
All of above mentioned measures are not valid for entry/exit to and from Iran and Iraq. Foreign trucks and drivers in Turkey will be allowed to leave Turkey and reach those countries by using open border crossing points. However, they will not be allowed to return to Turkey after they have left.
Further clarification on the implementation of the order is expected from TOBB.
Source: TOBB
25.03.2020
Turkey has introduced restrictions on road freight transport.
Turkish drivers returning to their country have to undergo a fourteen-day quarantine. Drivers from a country in the list below can no longer enter Turkey. Drivers from a country not on the list can enter Turkeyafter having undergone a fourteen-day quarantine outside Turkey (at the border). The list of countries is regularly updated. It should be noted that, for Turkish vehicles only, procedures are in place at the border to tranship goods onto vehicles inside Turkey or to exchange drivers
Country list (updated on 23/03 afternoon):
Angola / Algeria / Austria / Belgium / Bangladesh / China / Canada / Czech Republic / Chad / Cameroon / Colombia / Denmark / Djibouti / Dominican Republic / Egypt / Ecuador / Equatorial Guinea / France / Finland / Germany / Guatemala / Hungary / Iran / Italy / Iraq / Ireland / India / Ivory Coast / Jordan / Kuwait / Kenya / Kosovo / Kazakhstan / Lebanon / Latvia / Montenegro / Morocco / Mongolia / Moldova / Mauritania / NCTR / Norway / Netherlands / Niger / Northern Macedonia / Nepal / Oman / Poland / Philippines / Portugal / Panama / Peru / South Korea / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Saudi Arabia / Slovenia / Sudan / Sri Lanka / UK / United Arab Emirates / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Taiwan / Tunisia.
Source: UND
23.03.2020
Turkish authorities have taken additional measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Please see the following amendments:
- With effect from 21 March, all flights to/from the listed countries have been prohibited. The entry of passengers from any of the mentioned countries has been stopped at all Turkish border gates (land, rail, air and sea);
- With effect from 19 March, the following borders have been closed to passengers for both entry and exit:
Border Gates between Turkey and Greece:
- Ipsala;
- Pazarkule;
- Uzunköprü (railway)
Border Gates between Turkey and Bulgaria:
- Kapıkule (land);
- Kapıkule (railway);
- Hamzabeyli;
- Dereköy.
Please note that there will be no restrictions for goods transportation.
Citizens of the listed countries and third-country nationals who have visited these countries within the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter Turkey (with an exception for truck drivers who are not citizen of listed countries; these drivers will be put in quarantine for 14 days at the border gate prior entering Turkey);
There is no restriction for citizens of the mentioned countries leaving Turkey.
Country list (updated on 23/03 afternoon):
Angola / Algeria / Austria / Belgium / Bangladesh / China / Canada / Czech Republic / Chad / Cameroon / Colombia / Denmark / Djibouti / Dominican Republic / Egypt / Ecuador / Equatorial Guinea / France / Finland / Germany / Guatemala / Hungary / Iran / Italy / Iraq / Ireland / India / Ivory Coast / Jordan / Kuwait / Kenya / Kosovo / Kazakhstan / Lebanon / Latvia / Montenegro / Morocco / Mongolia / Moldova / Mauritania / NCTR / Norway / Netherlands / Niger / Northern Macedonia / Nepal / Oman / Poland / Philippines / Portugal / Panama / Peru / South Korea / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Saudi Arabia / Slovenia / Sudan / Sri Lanka / UK / United Arab Emirates / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Taiwan / Tunisia.
Source: UND
22.03.2020
Within the scope of current measures taken by Turkish authorities due to Corona Virus epidemic, the following applies:
• As of 21st March, all flights with countries listed below have been halted. Passenger entries from the mentioned countries have been stopped at all Turkish border points (land, rail, air, sea) .
• Citizens of the countries mentioned below and third-country nationals who have been in these countries within the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter Turkey. (All truck drivers who visited listed countries within the past 14 days will be put in quarantine for 14 days at border gate before entering Turkey)
• Citizens of the countries mentioned below willing to leave Turkey are not subject to restrictions.
COUNTRY LIST:
China / Iran / Italy / Iraq / South Korea / Germany / France / Spain / Norway / Denmark / Belgium / Sweden / Netherlands / Austria / Egypt / UK / Switzerland / Saudi Arabia / Ireland / United Arab Emirates / Kuwait / Bangladesh / Mongolia / NCTR / Ukraine / Kosovo / Morocco / Lebanon / Jordan / Kazakhstan / Uzbekistan / Oman / Slovenia / Moldova / Djibouti / Equatorial Guinea / Canada / India / Hungary / Guatemala / Poland / Kenya / Sudan / Chad / Philippines / Latvia / Taiwan / Peru / Sri Lanka / Ecuador / Niger / Tunisia / Algeria / Ivory Coast / Finland / Angola / Pull / Dominican Republic / Cameroon / Montenegro / Colombia / Northern Macedonia / Mauritania / Nepal / Portugal / Panama
Source: UND
19.03.2020
All border gates have been closed to passengers from the following countries: Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, China, Iran, Iraq, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, Hong-Kong and Thailand.
Turkish truck drivers entering the country from any of the listed countries will be quarantined for 14 days at home. Non-Turkish truck drivers (if they are not citizens of the listed country) entering the country from any of the listed countries will be quarantined for 14 days at the border and will not be permitted to enter Turkey during the quarantine period. Truck drivers who are citizens of the listed countries will not be allowed by Turkish authorities to enter Turkey.
With effect from the 15 March, the Sarp/Sarpi border between Turkey and Georgia has been closed for all passenger transport; passengers will be redirected to other land borders between the two countries. No restrictions have been imposed on freight transport.
With effect from the 19 March, the following borders have been closed to passengers for both entry and exit: Ipsala, Pazarkule, Uzunköprü (railway) the border between Turkey, Greece and Kapıkule (road), Kapıkule (railway), Hamzabeyli, Dereköy border between Turkey and Bulgaria. There will be no restrictions for goods transportation.
Source: Ministry of Interior – Republic of Turkey
16.03.2020
All border gates have been closed to passengers who have stayed in the following countries: Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, China, Iran, Iraq, and South Korea.
Truck drivers (except Turkish drivers) who come from the listed countries will be put in quarantine for 14 days at border gate and will not be allowed by Turkish authorities to enter Turkey during the quarantine period.
As of March 15th, Sarp / Sarpi border between Turkey and Georgia is closed for passenger transport. No restriction is imposed on freight transport, while passengers are redirected to other land borders gates between both countries.
Source: Ministry of Interior – Republic of Turkey